Grantee Research Project Results

On-Site Recovery of Glycols from Airport Deicing Fluid Using Polymeric/Ceramic Composite Membranes

EPA Contract Number: 68D50088
Title: On-Site Recovery of Glycols from Airport Deicing Fluid Using Polymeric/Ceramic Composite Membranes
Investigators: Liu, Paul K.T.
Small Business: Media and Process Technology Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through March 1, 1996
Project Amount: $64,690
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1995) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Watersheds , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

About 200 to 600 million gallons of waste water contaminated with <5 to ~30wt% glycols and additives are generated every year as a result of aircraft deicing. Presently "truck-and-treat" is the only accepted solution. An on-site membrane-based recovery process is proposed to enrich these glycols for off-site disposal or for recovery and reuse. The unique features of this proposed process include:

1. recovery of high purity and concentrated glycols,
   
2. generation of effluent water that can meet the COD discharge requirements of the local POTWs, and
   
3. minimization of energy consumption and other operating costs.

The key to this proposed process is the use of a polymeric/ceramic composite membrane capable of separating water from glycol at high temperature to achieve an efficient separation. Preliminary economic analysis indicates that the capital and operating costs can compete favorably against the existing "truck-and-treat" option plus other technologies including biotreatment, distillation, and reverse osmosis. Laboratory feasibility studies have been completed. Their Phase I study will focus on the long term operating and membrane material stability, process economic analysis and preparation for Phase II study for pilot test in the field.

Supplemental Keywords:

small business, SBIR, wasterwater treatment, engineering, chemistry., Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, Water, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Wastewater, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Engineering, control technologies, airport deicing, clean technology, ceramic membrane, aircraft deicing, membrane technology, pollution prevention, industrial wastewater, membrane filtration, aqueous waste stream, membrane-based, wastewater treatment, cleaner production, glycols, glycol recovery, pollution control, hazardous liquid waste

Progress and Final Reports:

Final

SBIR Phase II:

On-Site Recovery of Glycols from Airport Deicing Fluid Using Polymeric/Ceramic Composite Membranes  | Final Report